Happy Birthday, to the best DAD

Happy Birthday, to the best DAD 

Father's have always been underrated. We have always had so much written about mothers and their love and their sacrifices; we have always kind of over shadowed the father's. Every time I see an extremely philosophical quote about a mothers love; I instantly remember my dad as well. Because a father's love is also as pure and as sacrificial as that of a mother’s.

My memories of my dad are all good ones. Honestly, not one bad memory I have. He has always been the man who has showered me with extreme love, affection and care.

When I was a baby, I would never let him go to office. Every morning as he left from home, I would start crying & screaming at the top of my lungs. So much that he had to come back up, play with me, maybe put me to sleep or distract me and then go to office. & This happened every single time. You see, I have always been extremely fond of dad since the very beginning.

As I grew up, dad and I became the closest. He would always play with me, make me laugh, bring me chocolates and do whatever he could to make me happy.

I don't remember who taught me how to walk but I sure remember that dad taught me how to ride a bicycle. He was so patient with me. He would hold the cycle and run behind it, for hours until I learned to ride it properly. Every time I fell down, he would come pick me up, say it's okay and then would prompt me to start riding again. Maybe that's why I don't give up so easily even today. Probably cuz in those cycle sessions, I knew no matter how many times I fail at a task, dad would always be there to pick me up, tell me it's okay and help me start afresh.

When I was in school, probably 1st std, dad wanted me to learn swimming. So we enrolled for a swimming class. I never really liked swimming to be honest but I went. I was also good at it; dad was my coach. But one fine Sunday as we went to the pool, dad casually said, "there is more water today"; and I freaked out. I threw a tantrum right there and refused to even step into the pool area. Dad got really angry & took me back home and punished me. It was a normal punishment to be honest; he made me stand on the high platform from where I couldn't get down- which was kinda funny really. But I still say this to him every single time and every single time he feels so bad about it.

When I was in school, I had a habit of drinking bournvita eevery night. & I always wanted it from dad. Even if he would be late from office, I would wait for him to come back, be it 10 or 12 and I would have it only from him. Now though I do not have bournvita, I still always wait for dad to come back home, and have dinner together, no matter how late he gets.

Kids are usually scared of their father in comparison to their mothers. Not me. I have never been scared of dad. He has always been the most sweetest, the most gentlest and the most caring man I have ever seen in life. For me he has always been the one who would listen to me, always pamper me a lot, who always gave me a free hand at everything I ever wanted to do.

This one time I was going away for merely 2 days to mom's native and I still remember he cried at the station. Because he wasn’t going to see me for a whole 2 days. Like literally cried there on the station. And this has been till date. Whenever I have been away even for a single night, he has cried. Always.

Whenever I was sick, he has always been there. Running from doctor to doctor. Trying to make me feel better. Even when I have something as mere as cramps, he won't let me even get up from my place. He'll always hug me, pat my head, try to make me feel better. And honestly whenever I am sick, having him close by does make me feel better.

When I was in school, he had an accident. A serious one. We all went to the hospital and waited. As he was bought into the hospital from the ambulance; I burst out crying. I had never seen dad like that. He had blood all over and he couldn't walk properly and he had something tied across his arm. I will never in my life forget that. He was rushed to the ICU. He was almost passing out. But even in that, he called me inside the ICU and showed me a thumb wishing me all the best; as it was my exam the next day.

He always accompanies me and my mom for my shopping. He absolutely hates it of course, but he still comes. And I, even though never take his choices in to consideration, always want him there.

One year in Diwali, I accidentally burnt my hair. My hair caught fire on the diya and dad literally put off the fire with his bare hands. Reflexively his 1st reaction wasn't to get water or even think about burning his hand; but to save me. How do father's do that?

Last year I had a back problem and he was literally the strongest support. He was more worried for me that I was. He sat with me the entire time. He went to innumerable doctors even though he himself had fever. But even in that all he could care about was making me feel better, thinking about me and only me.

When I cleared my CS, he was so happy and so proud. As he distributed sweets to people, I could really see him brimming with happiness and pride. He had a pumped up chest and a smile so wide I can never forget. And I really hope I can keep making him proud in the future as well. Really baba, I won't ever let you down. 

Even today, he keeps doing these small small things for me. Whenever there is a new chocolate in the market, he will get it for me. Even if I merely say "I feel like eating so & so"; his first reaction is, "I'll go get it" no matter if it's 6 in the morning or 11 in the night. If I even feel a slight discomfort, he'll really get worried and do whatever he can. He will give me his umbrella and get drenched himself, even though he catches cold easily. He will always make me walk from the inside of the road. He will immediately exchange plates the moment I even mention that I don't like my ordered food. He will always come to drop me or pick me up, the moment I call, no matter what he is doing, even if he is having dinner or is on an important call. There was this one time where we ordered a falooda with ice cream and I couldn't really eat it bcuz of the ice cream so I said I don't want it; but he knew why and he actually fed it to me.

From as long as I can remember, he has been there for me. Through thick and thin. Always giving me the support I needed, whenever I needed him.  Never once in my life I had to worry about any pressures because I knew he would always support me. And he has. He has always since forever supported me in all my dreams, all my ambitions. He has always motivated me to get what I wanted, always helped me realise that I can achieve whatever I set my mind to. Because he would always be there. Even if all bets are down, I know he will always be there.

I have never in my life seen a man better than my dad. The means and extents he goes to just to put a smile across my face, who wouldn't care a tini tiny bit about the world if it comes across my happiness. Though mom has taught me a lot of things and I call her my teacher in a way, dad has also been one. He has taught me far greater things.

I wish I could stay with my dad forever. Not to mention, the perfect man that he is, always has been; he has set really strong standards. Whenever I meet a guy I try to look for parts of my dad in him. But no guy can ever be as amazing a man as my dad. He really is the best there can ever be. & even though I never admit it as often as dad does, it terrifies me as well thinking about living away from him after marriage.

I probably don't say it as much as I should but I really love you baba. You are my best friend, my strongest support, like a rock. I might not express it as much as I should but I really care for u, a lot. & You mean the world to me. & I really really hope that I keep making you proud and happy. I really wish I do make you happy even now. You are one of the best person in my life and I cannot even imagine not having you around, or not having your support ever. Please always be with me, just like you have always been and I'll be the happiest girl in the world. Since a kid, I have trusted you to catch me when you threw me up in the air, and I’ll always trust you with my life, forever.

And honestly thank you. Thank you for everything that u have done. But you'll have to keep doing those things cuz I'll always need you.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Love you loads.

You're the best.

THIS THING WE CALL "LOVE"…

THIS THING WE CALL LOVE…

Why do we find it so hard to accept love? To confess love?

Isn’t it supposed to be a positive emotion?

I have seen people flip out the moment a person expresses their love towards them. I have done it too. Freaking out, only because someone said they loved me. This is so strange, isn’t it? It is like we millennials do not want to get entangled into this beautiful mess that is called love. It’s always “too much” or “too fast”. We keep saying things like we aren’t ready for love or we do not have the time for love; but is that going to change, ever? Rather, do we really want that to change?

Equally, we are also scared to fall in love or express the love that we have. We try to constantly keep our feelings in check, under control, trying to fit it & limit it within boundaries. All this, only because we fear getting hurt. We fear vulnerability. We fear endings. We carry the weights of our pasts. We think of the negative “what if’s” even before there’s a reason to.

I have seen people who would love to be in relationships, yet are not, only because they fear intimacy. Because they fear commitment. Because along with all the wonderful feelings, love also brings with it compromises and adjustments. It also brings with it the need to put someone else before you. & we, as a generation, are scared of it.

Yes, scared is the word.

We are all so scared of love. Scared to love. Love- which is supposed to be the easiest & the most stimulating feeling ever. Love- which is supposed to make you feel good about yourself. Love- which is supposed to make your life better, make the problems appear smaller. Love- the only thing that can make you feel complete.

It is funny how we flip out, try to find reasons & over analyze everything if someone says “I love you”. But we wouldn’t bat an eyelid if a person said “I hate you”.

Why is love so hard to accept? Why is it so messed up? Or is it, really? Maybe we have messed it up by our over analyzing skills. We are constantly stuck between “what if it’s not the right one” and “what if it is the right one”, that we prefer to stay in the middle- where things are easier. Yes, we tend to take the easier way out.

But that’s not how love works. You can fall for any random person, anytime. Love doesn’t make you worry about her past or about his financial stability. It is an all accepting feeling.

When you look across a crowded room and see him there- the relief that washes over you is love.

When after a tough long day, you listen to her voice- that momentary ease you feel is love.

When he reaches out to hold your hand while you’re crossing roads- that’s love.

When she keeps checking on you, even after you’ve had a fight- that’s love.

When you can talk about anything & everything; but also when the silence is as comfortable- that is love.

When you hold her/ him close to you, & that very moment, for that tiny instant there the world feels just about right- that is love.

It was so much simpler in the good old days. I do not think the previous generations were so messed up or so confused about love. Why can’t we be like that? We keep looking for everything in a partner- looks, personality, sense of humor, sexual compatibility, family values, career, past- everything. & we over analyze everything, with our first instinct being- to find a fault somewhere. & when we cannot find any fault, we try to look for reasons beyond. We look for a perfect love story, a fairy tale life. But we can never find it, because love is not a story book. It is always going to be a lot of work, but in the end it will all be worth it, because that’s how love is.

Love is a beautiful feeling. It is the only thing that gives you strength, the only thing that has the capacity to make you feel even so slightly better in this crooked world. But here we are, fighting against it, avoiding it, running away from it as much & as far as we can. 

But we cannot run from it forever, for Love is a short word but the most important one.

For love is the only thing in this world that covers up all the pain and makes someone feel wonderful again. Love is the only thing in this world that does not hurt.